Police revealed their latest weapon in the fight to make the roads safer.

From now on drivers and riders who break the rules of the road could be caught on camera -- and find themselves with no defence in court as their misdemeanours are instantly played before their eyes.

Following a reduction by one third in the number of accidents in the last six months, Bermuda Police are hoping their new hi-tech "eyewitness'' in-car video camera will cut road crime even further.

A surveillance camera is now being used from unmarked Police cars, filming incidents of speeding and poor driving -- and could ultimately be used as evidence in court cases.

Chief Inspector Roger Kendall said the $6,000 camera could be the first of many units in an Island-wide campaign to curb bad motoring behaviour.

He said the introduction followed a programme of cautioning motorists, particularly to get speeders to slow down.

"The cautions were working but they weren't getting the message home to everybody,'' he said.

"We are still getting high speeds in excess of 100 km. When we show people the playback they say `OK'.

"We will use this for traffic enforcement, for speeding, dangerous driving, drunk driving and it can record the action of drivers when they have stopped -- including sound in and outside of the car.'' Police have a variety of unmarked cars which can be fitted with the unit and the aim is to rotate the camera from vehicle to vehicle.

It comprises camera, video player, screen and microphones. Operated simultaneously with emergency equipment or when a mike is switched on, the camera tapes clear and concise pictures -- day or night.

The aim is to have the camera on the entire time the vehicle is operating, so instant action can be taped without officers having to activate the machine.

In many cases the playback of their deeds will convince a motorist to plead guilty, but Police are hoping the judiciary will welcome the use of video evidence in the event of a court case.

Since it will record both sound and pictures of the incident, and the tapes cannot be recorded over, Chief Insp. Kendall believes it will benefit both offender and prosecutor.

And motorists who misbehave can be rest assured that at present their actions will not find their way on to a TV video nasty show. Although they may be used as part of Police training.

The camera surveillance is the latest stage in a three-pronged attack designed to reclaim the roads for safe motorists.

Officers have used education, followed by high visibility patrols and finally enforcement.

"Our aim is not to persecute but to prosecute transgressors, we are not here to make money for the Government.'' In recent months, officers have been cautioning drivers about their behaviour, before moving onto ticketing.

And they have made efforts to reduce the number of offenders clogging the courts on certain days, by staging appearances over time.

In addition, they have added new laser guns which can pinpoint the speed of vehicles overtaking others.

And in an effort to reduce costs, the Service has started to bring in dual-purpose vehicles from the UK which can take several officers, their equipment, whilst also serving as a mobile cell for prisoners.

Another development in years to come is likely to include the introduction of a global positioning satellite tracking system, to enable the service to monitor its 140 plus vehicles.

On camera: Police have equipped a patrol car with a video camera